Cape Coral Nile Monitor Control

The Nile monitor is a non-native, invasive species in Florida. Although it has been spotted in several counties,
the Nile monitor population in Cape Coral is the highest in the state -
estimated to be somewhere over 1000.

The Nile monitor is large, fast and hazardous, devouring smaller dogs, cats,
and beloved wildlife such as burrowing owls, sea turtles and birds.

If you have a Nile monitor problem, it should not be taken lightly, you will
want to address it immediately. We can help you get rid of Nile monitors.

Nile Monitor Project - Fox 4 News Coverage

The Wildlife Whisperer recently made the news when Ned Bruha was called in to solve a
family's apparent Nile monitor
problem.

It is not uncommon for iguanas, Nile monitors and other lizards to invade attics in search of
food and shelter.

Larger lizards like the ones troubling this homeowner, can
tear their way through a roof and be inside your home before
you know it.

Regarding this story, after investigating the situation further, Bruha and the Wildlife Whisperer's reptile expert Jim Pellerin,
discovered
this family didn't have a Nile monitor in their attic, but rather they had
a group of 3 to 6 large iguanas, also known as a "mess" of iguanas.

For more information
related to this story please visit our sections on lizard control, iguanas, and identifying Nile monitors.

The Wildlife Whisperer, Inc. goes beyond simply removing Nile monitors and other large lizards such as iguanas, we
also have the equipment, expertise and support network to help you identify the
cause of the problem, fix it and prevent future problems too.

Cape Coral's Nile Monitor Problem

It's uncertain as to when the first Nile monitors arrived in Florida, but sightings began around 1990.
It is most likely that they were originally brought over as a pet, only to escape or be released when
their owners found them too difficult to care for.

Nile monitors are great swimmers and drawn to areas with plenty of
water where they can swim and hunt. Take the canals around Cape Coral, combined with the lush vegetation,
and the area gave them just what they were looking for - food, shelter and lots of water.

Large Nile Monitor Next To The Water

Once released in the early 1990's, their population grew rapidly. This is because there are few natural population
control factors in place to keep their numbers down, they
grow quickly and begin breeding at an early age, laying around 60 eggs per clutch.

Today, there are believed to be over 1000 Nile monitors in the Cape Coral area, and they have
become a very big problem for area residents.

The Nile monitor is a very large lizard, it is the largest lizard in Africa and grows to around 5', sometimes reaching over 7'.
They are intelligent, active and very predatory.

Nile Monitor Control IncludesTrapping, Removal and/or Exclusion

They hunt by day and will not hesitate to go after a small dog or cat.
The will also eat beloved wildlife species such as the burrowing owl and gopher tortoise.
Nile monitors have strong tails that can hurt when they strike and a bite that can do some serious damage, even crush bones.

Nile monitors have sharp claws and very sharp teeth.
They are considered a venomous lizard, their saliva can make you very sick - if you are bitten you
should seek help immediately.

Nile monitors also dig large burrows, usually close to the canals, which can compromise the sea wall.
They can also create havoc and become a nuisance when they get into trash.

Nile Monitor Removal

The population has grown so large that the idea of completely getting rid of Nile monitors
in Cape Coral has somewhat been abandoned.
Consequently, the state is
focusing more on control efforts these days, which include Nile monitor trapping and removal, as opposed to complete eradication.

Catching a Nile monitors isn't something the average homeowner should try as a DIY project.

There are a few options if you have a Nile monitor problem around your home.
The
Environmental Resources Division conducts a trapping program, if you are having a Nile monitor problem in Cape Coral,
you can give them a call at (239) 574-0785.
If you prefer to call a private trapper, the Wildlife Whisperer offers Nile monitor removal services
and can help get rid of them for you.

Regardless of what avenue you decide to utilize, it will be important to follow removal up with the proper
modifications to your home to repair damage and exclude them from getting back in - or more will come in soon to
take their place.

We can help you with all your Nile monitor removal and prevention needs from start to finish, from identifying the cause
and severity of the problem, to removal and repairs, to exclusion and prevention of further issues.

Nile Monitor Creating A Nuisance

Identifying Nile Monitors

If you are trying to locate a Nile monitor around your home it might be helpful to know they usually build their burrows
close to a canal, and spend a lot of time swimming in the water or basking in the sun.

Nile monitors, as seen below, are sometimes mistaken for other lizards and vice versa. But if you know what to
look for, Nile monitors are actually pretty distinguishable due to their characteristic markings.

Nile Monitor On A Beach

Iguanas tend to be green, brown or blackish with blackish bands around their bodies and/or tails. Whereas monitors are
black with yellow spots. It could be said that a Nile monitor's markings are of a banded nature but iguanas don't quite have
the spotted pattern that Nile monitors do. Another way to tell them apart - iguanas, like the one in the first photo
shown immediately below, have a spiny appearance on their back, whereas Nile monitors do not.
The Tegu lizard, like the one seen in the second photo below, might be a bit easier to mistake for a young Nile monitor than
an iguana would be, as the markings on a Tegu are more similar. Tegus are shorter, usually 2' to 3' in length. On occasion,
a Nile monitor, especially a larger one, may be mistaken for an alligator.

Green Iguana

Tegu Lizard

If you are having problems with large lizards and not sure of the cause, we have the equipment and experts available
to identify exactly what kind of lizard is creating the problem.

Humane wildlife control, pest control and prevention, done right the 1st time.

Please help support our friends at
Wild Heart Ranch - a 501(c)(3)
wildlife rehabilitation facility. Even the smallest of donations
can help save an animal's life. You can donate above or visit
WildHeartRanch.org to learn more.